Health care premiums skyrocket through exchange

Those needing to buy health insurance through the federal marketplace are seeing premium sticker shock. Omaha Insurance Agent Art Jetter says most policies through the marketplace have double digit increases.

Jetter says, “If you look at the exchange premiums, the approved rates are increasing between about 16% and 21%.”

Jetter says off-marketplace premiums are up anywhere from 9% to 10%. He says, “When you talk about an exchange, you talk about an item of convenience. It is not a cost saver. In fact, it adds a layer of expense to manage it. Hundreds of millions, maybe billions (of dollars) thrown into an exchange that just adds a layer.”

He says there actually has been a decrease in premium prices for some small business policies. For more details, log on to www.ratereview.healthcare.gov.